Everybody has to rent some point in their life.  When I think back in my life, I remember that when I moved out at 20, I wanted to rent an apartment, but I didn’t know how much I could afford.

Listen, if you’re working full time, you can make ends meet, and yes, while it can be tough to make ends meet at $9 an hour, you really can do it in some points of the country.  Yes, again, I know you can’t make it in New York City, but in the midwest, it’s not hard to find an apartment for $400.

How much rent can I truly afford?

Know your take home pay. The first thing that you want to do is write down your take home pay for the month.  If you’re a waitress, or you have a varying pay, just low ball just to be safe.  You never want to overestimate, as this will hurt you.

Know the bills you owe. Of course, there’s going to be more than just your rent.  Some apartments will include heat, and more.  It’s your duty to know what is included.  Be prepared to pay these additional bills:

• Water
• Garbage
• Heat
• Electric
• Phone
• Parking (in big cities)
• Cable / Internet / Cell (optional, of course)

Tips that experts will give you

Most experts will tell you that you don’t want to spend no more than 30-35% of your take home pay on rent.  For example, if you take home $2,000 a month, you won’t want to spend no more than $600 on rent.

How to save money on rent

Consider living outside the city. If you work in the city, you  may find it easier to travel 30 miles to a suburb, where rent is 50% less.

Get a roommate. There are plenty of roommates out there needing a place.  Ask friends, family, check with roommate websites, and more.

Compare. Check around 5 apartments, before you sign a contract.  Some apartments are more than willing to work on your rent.

Go private. When you go with a private landlord, they will be more than willing to work on your rent prices.

How much rent can I afford calculators

• UTAH.gov
• TheBeeHive
• BostonApartments

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